Parking in Aberdeen

• Aberdeen Shiprow (AB11 5BY) offers easy access to the harbour and the exciting Shiprow area and has more than 350 available spaces.
• Denburn multi-storey car park (AB25 1PU) is open 24/7 and is close to the Union Terrace Gardens and Aberdeen Art Gallery
• On street parking is available across the city at pay and display machines, which can be paid with your phone when you use the PayByPhone app.

Main roads in Aberdeen

• The A90 runs south to north along the eastern coast of Scotland, connecting Edinburgh to Fraserburgh. It travels between Dundee to Aberdeen before continuing north, letting you explore several locations en route.
• The A96 is a north-western road that starts from a junction on King Street in Aberdeen. It then bypasses Inverurie and Elgin, before merging with the A9 in Inverness.
• The A92 easily connects Aberdeen city centre and the wider Aberdeenshire region to Fife, Dundee and Angus.

How to get from Aberdeen International Airport to Aberdeen

You can reach the city centre from the airport in about 20 minutes in your hire car:

1. Leave the Hertz rental car park and head south on Argyll Road.
2. Turn left onto Dyce Drive.
3. Make another left turn onto the A96.
4. Take the 2^nd exit from Bucksburn Roundabout.
5. At Haudigan Roundabout, take the 2^nd exit and continue down the A96.
6. Continue for another five miles to reach Aberdeen’s centre.

How to get from Aberdeen to Edinburgh

Scotland’s capital is less than three hours away from Aberdeen. Take the A92 south out of the city and continue onto the A90. When you reach Perth, merge onto the M90, which will take you directly into central Edinburgh.

Best hotels in Aberdeen

Meldrum House

Oldmeldrum, AB51 0AE

Escape to the Scottish countryside at Meldrum House, tucked within 350 acres of blissful woodland. With a plethora of elegant rooms, each uniquely designed with traditional antiquities, this country house also features a lavish spa, an 18-hole golf course and grand clubhouse.

Skene House Rosemount

96 Rosemount Viaduct, AB25 1NX

In the heart of the city, Skene House is a family-run block of fully serviced apartments, featuring single, double and even three-bed suites to suit every traveller. It’s close to the nightlife of the city, while still providing easy access to the nearby countryside. It’s also pet-friendly, making it perfect for those travelling with four-legged pals.

Aloft Aberdeen TECA

Gough Burn Cres, AB21 9FY

This stylish hotel is just around the corner from the airport. Each room features a classy mahogany desk, flat-screen TV and fully fitted bathroom, with open-plan living spaces to tuck away in. Test your pool skills on one of the hotel’s tables and build up a sweat in the gym and fitness centre.

Best restaurants in Aberdeen

Adelphi Kitchen

28 Adelphi, AB11 5BL

Sample fresh seafood plucked from the waters of the east Scottish coast or feast on perfectly smoked meats at the Adelphi. This restaurant features an open pit barbecue, achieving that wonderfully woodsy flavour for every dry-aged hunk of beef.  

Musa

33 Exchange Street, AB11 6PH

Enjoy live music and admire local art at this popular restaurant-meets-gallery. Nestled in the Merchant’s Quarter of the harbour area, Musa adds a modern touch to traditional Scottish dishes. Sample the Cullen skink smoked fish soup with oatcakes, before digging into a fresh cut of venison.

Silver Darling

Pocra Quay, AB11 5DQ

Experience fine dining at this established restaurant, which opened its grand doors in 1986. Named after the local term for the herring, diners can expect a seafood-heavy menu. Enjoy pan-fried scallops with serrano ham for starters and follow up with the popular poached monkfish for you main, all beneath a large glass ceiling in the restaurant conservatory.

What to do in Aberdeen

Aberdeen Harbour

Shiprow, AB11 5BY

The harbour is the epitome of Aberdeen’s maritime culture and heritage. Discover the city’s history as a major fishing port at the Aberdeen Maritime Museum and try catch a glimpse of bottlenose and white dolphins making a leap on the horizon. The port is also known to have minke whales frequent the area and they can often be seen coming up for air.

Brig O’Balgownie

Bridge of Don, AB23 8JQ

This legendary medieval crossing connects the banks of the River Don in Old Aberdeen. Dating back to the 13^th century (and a strong contender for being the oldest bridge in Scotland), the bridge stretches over an allegedly mystical pool named Black Neuk, which were eulogized by Lord Byron himself in Don Juan. 

Forvie National Nature Reserve

Forvie, AB41 8RU

Just a 30-minute drive north from Aberdeen, Forvie National Nature Reserve features splendid stretches of beach, perfect for a brisk stroll, and some of Britain’s largest sand dunes. One of Scotland’s more dramatic coastal areas, the mouth of estuary is a year-round hub of seals and regular base for bird life.